Results 561-580 of 992 for speaker:Gabrielle McFadden

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I would like to have a debate on this matter with the Minister. I welcome the €690 million that is allocated in the budget for capital expenditure by the Department of Education and Skills. I am delighted with it on a personal level because it includes approval for Coosan national school in my constituency to proceed to tender. The school has been on the books for some 16 years and...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I thank Senator McDowell for putting it forward as it provides us with an opportunity to debate Seanad reform which is absolutely necessary. The Seanad is the Upper House of the Oireachtas but one would not think it is. Reform should include getting more media coverage for the Seanad.

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: It should also include making the Seanad more valid. Much of the debate is about how Senators are elected. Senators are treated like second-class citizens in the House. I do not want to go back over the GAA ticket matter which was raised earlier by Senator Paddy Burke but it is an issue. For example, Tuesday was budget day and all Deputies were given tickets for the Gallery for visitors...

Seanad: Seanad Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: Those are three small examples of how the Seanad is treated with which I do not agree. Much of today's and previous debates has centred on how the Seanad is elected. This should be dealt with on a broader term. I do not agree with taking the vote away from councillors, as has been suggested. While there is talk about Seanad and local authority reform, there is never any talk about...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: May I share a minute or so with Senator Buttimer, please?

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: Yes or thereabouts.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: Six and two. The eight minutes is a limit, not a target.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: Six minutes.

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Are we committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities or are we merely paying lip service to it? It is right and proper that we meet the needs of these vulnerable people. Currently, we have over 5,000 users of Irish Sign Language in the State and it is fair that public services provide them with interpretation services when questions of...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I rise today to raise the issue of the Organisation for National Ex-Service Personnel, ONE. I raise in particular the funding for housing for these ex-servicemen. A fuchsia appeal was launched in July, which is a charity. I do not believe that ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen that have served their country so proudly should have to rely on charity when they fall on hard times. ONE has...

Seanad: Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (26 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I acknowledge the Acting Chairman's point that there are 52 amendments and all Members want to speak, and it is very important that they all speak. This is a serious Bill that will go through this House and we as policy makers should speak on it. I accept completely the sentiments behind the Bill. I know, as others have said, that there is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Prevention Measures (27 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I welcome the Minister of State. This matter relates to flooding in the Shannon region. As the Minister is undoubtedly aware, Athlone and the surrounding area suffered terribly from flooding last year. On 4 December 2015, it became very obvious to people in the town that we were in very big trouble. Thanks to the hard work and perseverance of home owners, county council staff, the Army,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Prevention Measures (27 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I welcome the moneys. Those moneys were made available before, although I do not doubt the Government's commitment. I was smack bang in the middle of all of it last year when Athlone flooded. I was out, day and night, like others and several Ministers came down to us. I am aware of the Government's commitment. I welcome the remarks of the Minister of State about local dredging in some...

Seanad: Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Bill 2016: Order for Second Stage (27 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Bill 2016: Second Stage (27 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: I believe that is a limit rather than a target. I will not be here for too long. I welcome the Minister to the House. Palmyra is an oasis in the Syrian Desert to the north east of Damascus. Until 2014, Palmyra contained the ruins of a great city that was once one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world, standing at the crossroads of western and eastern civilisations....

Seanad: Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Bill 2016: Second Stage (27 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: On Wednesday, 9 November 2016.

Seanad: Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Bill 2016: Second Stage (27 Oct 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: At 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 9 November 2016.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Media Freedom in Turkey: National Union of Journalists (3 Nov 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: The witnesses are very welcome. I thank them for taking the time to come into us this morning. I do not ever repeat what other people have said and some of what I wanted to say has already been said, so I will not go back over it. As was said, Turkey is a candidate country for EU accession. Even before the coup, there were quite worrying trends regarding the suppression of freedom of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Media Freedom in Turkey: National Union of Journalists (3 Nov 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: There was a briefing outlining the Minister's position.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Nov 2016)

Gabrielle McFadden: It would be remiss of me not mention Athlone in the context of the Rugby World Cup. We have the great Buccaneers stadium in Athlone which is very central and could accommodate matches, too. I wish to speak about mental health. Over six months ago Fine Gael made an election commitment to increase mental health funding to €175 million, to build on A Vision for Change by resourcing...